I don't think I understand AT&T's Data Plans - Networking

Alright, so I have a Fuze. I assume I have "PDA Personal", which doesn't have a data cap. So... why do the others have data caps? Because of tethering?
With windows mobile wifi router, I can connect laptops to my phone for internet... so why is tethering important? Tethering seems like it'd be more complicated.
And what are these horror stories of people getting outrageous charges on their phone bill from roaming data charges? How concerned should I be about my bill being very large one day?

I don't know.
AT&T is full of ****.
I used to have a Motorola v9 and I used the MediaNet Unlimited plan that's $15 a month. When I got my HTC Fuze they switched me to the PDA Personal plan that's $30 a month WITHOUT TELLING ME!
I called and they said that because of the device I'm using I need to have the PDA Personal plan... So I called back until I got a really nice lady and told her I switched back to my old phone and I would really appreciate if I could get my old data plan back. She switched it for me and it works exactly the same as the PDA Personal plan only I'm now paying half the price.
I repeat AT&T is full of ****. ALL of the data plans do the SAME EXACT THING. The only difference is the prices and the data caps. So my advise is to just trick them into switching you to the MediaNet Unlimited like I did.

People do that all the time - but should I? Can I get in trouble? I don't really know what to do. I'd love to pay less - especially since it's 10 dollars a month now - but I don't know how. Some people say to put your SIM in a non-PDA phone first.

thehyecircus said:
People do that all the time - but should I? Can I get in trouble? I don't really know what to do. I'd love to pay less - especially since it's 10 dollars a month now - but I don't know how. Some people say to put your SIM in a non-PDA phone first.
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Well I haven't got in trouble... they haven't noticed yet and I got mine the day the Fuze was available. If they call me out on it I'll just plead ignorance. They did ask for my IMEI when I had it switched. I'm not sure if that allows them to verify if you have a PDA phone or not but I just put my SIM in my old Motorola v9 and gave them that one.
It's and unlimited plan and since both phones can tether over Bluetooth I can use just as much data on either phone. I don't see any reason I should have to pay twice as much just because the Fuze is PDA.

Related

ATTN.T-Mobile US-Keep your android data plan!

This is just an FYI to everyone who swtched from an android device to the HD2. YOU CAN KEEP YOUR CHEAPER DATA PLAN! they will try to tell you that the smartphone data plan and the android data plan are specific to the device and that one will not work on the other, but that is just not true. My android plan is $24.99 unlimited data and 400 texts a month the smartphone data plan is $30 with no texts. so after getting text messaging it's $10 more expensive. I swtch from my G1 to my HD2 all the time and the data works on both. Call up the customer loyalty group people and demand your android data plan back! they will give it to you if you keep at it. they switched me to the more expensive data plan after specificly telling them not to, i think its just an automatic system adjustment when you buy an HD2. but it can be switched back and it DOES WORK! dont be fooled by the CSR's they dont know what they are talking about. Spread the word!
This applys to anyone like me who has an old and cheap family plan and obviously not people with the unlimited everything plans
I'm set up the same way. Only issue is you will get some funky text messages for the vm notifications. Notifications on the wm phones still work, though.
mr-green said:
This is just an FYI to everyone who swtched from an android device to the HD2. YOU CAN KEEP YOUR CHEAPER DATA PLAN! they will try to tell you that the smartphone data plan and the android data plan are specific to the device and that one will not work on the other, but that is just not true. My android plan is $24.99 unlimited data and 400 texts a month the smartphone data plan is $30 with no texts. so after getting text messaging it's $10 more expensive. I swtch from my G1 to my HD2 all the time and the data works on both. Call up the customer loyalty group people and demand your android data plan back! they will give it to you if you keep at it. they switched me to the more expensive data plan after specificly telling them not to, i think its just an automatic system adjustment when you buy an HD2. but it can be switched back and it DOES WORK! dont be fooled by the CSR's they dont know what they are talking about. Spread the word!
This applys to anyone like me who has an old and cheap family plan and obviously not people with the unlimited everything plans
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Click to collapse
I thought the same way, so I kept my Blackberry data plan for 25 dollars.
It didn't work properly. Internet was ok, but kept getting weird mms or email issues. changed to the 'proper' 30 dollar plan after 4 days, and I don't have that issue anymore.
As for how or why that happens, I don't know.
mwelch16 said:
I'm set up the same way. Only issue is you will get some funky text messages for the vm notifications. Notifications on the wm phones still work, though.
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I haven't noticed any text messages for the vm notifications. I do have visual vm working on the HD2.
I wasn't actually aware of the price difference between the 2 data plans.
I actually switched back to Android data plan so I could try something on my HTC Dream and since the HD2 works as well... no reason to switch back.
I thought tmo us only offers 2 kinds of data plan. first one is for blackberry users and it's called blackberry network. the second one is for any other smart phone users. it's called the android network. even hd2 is a wm phone, it uses the android network.
its not that bad of a deal considering you pay 30$ for data and 5$ extra for unlimited text
yeah it's not that bad its only $10 more, but everytime they have a new phone or OS they add a new data service that is a little more expensive. first it was the BB data which i believe started at $20 then the android $25 that includes texts, now they have the smartphone data plan $30 w/ no texts. To me it seems that if you can keep whatever grandfathered in data plan and phone plan for that matter it will always save you money. If you dont keep the charges where they are at they will nickel and dime you to death! the funny thing is that i doubt there is much of a change in the actual service it just has a new name and a new price tag to with it. once HSPDA is available in Kansas City where Im at I would gladly pay more, but i dont see a reason for charging more for the same service.
oh and also, I have had zero issues with the android data plan on my HD2. it works exactly the same as it did before when I had the new smartphone data plan and didnt know it. once I fiqured out they switched my data plan I immidiately switched back to the android plan. I have had no weird VM notification issues or anything.
good point
Heh I rem making a post about this too.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=652990
Data plan costs the same. but if they give me the smartphone one, G1 internet dies.. However.. otherway around.. works fine.
t-mobile getting pretty close to at&t now with their data plans.i pay extra $5 now for unlimited web and text before i had the $35 unlimited data and text.i always thought data plans prices would go down day by day but i was defenetly WRONG.wondering how much carriers gonna charge for 4G datas?
I am looking at the HD2, presently have the iPhone. I am with T-Mobile and have the non-contract family plan (4 phones.) I have 750 shared minutes, unlimited Text, Unlimited Internet (my phone only) and pay $100.92/month.
I talked to T-Mobile at 2 different locations and they tell me something different.
If I buy a 2 Year contract I can get the HD2 for $199.00, but must pay $24.95 or $30.00/month for the data plan. They say that I can keep my other 3 phones without a contract. That equates to $240 more a year. However, I cannot just keep my unlimited Internet @ $10/month. I must get a data plan.
They tell me that I will be changed from the Unlimited Internet $10 to the Data Plan automatically when I use my phone.The 2 year contract does not bother me as I have used T-Mobile for years and will continue to do so unless I find a better plan.
My questions are:
1. What is the advantage of buying the HD2 at $500 vs $200 as you still have to buy the Data Plan? Apparently the 2 year contract.
2. Why can't I just buy the HD2 and use my old SIM card and continue under the plan I have? Will they really worry about my current Internet plan and get me for the Data Plan?
3. Is the HD2 better than the iPhone overall? I am very impressed with the HD2 and from what I have seen via YouTube, it is very slick.
I know I will receive different opinions, however, that is what I am looking for. Have had the MDA, Wing, Omnia and iPhone.
I value your opinions as I have been on XDA for years and have received very valuable information and Help! Thanks in advance.
asctony said:
I am looking at the HD2, presently have the iPhone. I am with T-Mobile and have the non-contract family plan (4 phones.) I have 750 shared minutes, unlimited Text, Unlimited Internet (my phone only) and pay $100.92/month.
I talked to T-Mobile at 2 different locations and they tell me something different.
If I buy a 2 Year contract I can get the HD2 for $199.00, but must pay $24.95 or $30.00/month for the data plan. They say that I can keep my other 3 phones without a contract. That equates to $240 more a year. However, I cannot just keep my unlimited Internet @ $10/month. I must get a data plan.
They tell me that I will be changed from the Unlimited Internet $10 to the Data Plan automatically when I use my phone.The 2 year contract does not bother me as I have used T-Mobile for years and will continue to do so unless I find a better plan.
My questions are:
1. What is the advantage of buying the HD2 at $500 vs $200 as you still have to buy the Data Plan? Apparently the 2 year contract.
2. Why can't I just buy the HD2 and use my old SIM card and continue under the plan I have? Will they really worry about my current Internet plan and get me for the Data Plan?
3. Is the HD2 better than the iPhone overall? I am very impressed with the HD2 and from what I have seen via YouTube, it is very slick.
I know I will receive different opinions, however, that is what I am looking for. Have had the MDA, Wing, Omnia and iPhone.
I value your opinions as I have been on XDA for years and have received very valuable information and Help! Thanks in advance.
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Click to collapse
dont know the difference between the $10 data plan and the $30 data plan but all i know i've been using the iPHONE 3g since it came out on t-mobile offcourse jailbroken,never thought i would go back to windows mobile till the HD2 arrived and i gave my iPHONE to my sister for good and never looked back cuz im shocked by the experience on the HD2 since i became a member on the XDA.thanx to XDA i've tweaked the HD2 and loving it and looking forward to the end of this year for XDA to flash WM to ANDROID 2.1 on the HD2.as far on buying the HD2,i've already have a contract with t-mobile and i was do for an upgrade but instead of upgrade i bought the phone with 4 months installment plan which is about $112.50 a month on the bill(which is not bad) and i made sure that they didnt upgrade my contract.also added $5.99 for full insurance.so.......... so far loving the HD2 and its a keeper for me.hope it helps u a little.
@asctony if I were you I would try tobuy an unlocked hd2 and try to keep the $10 internet.but I would make sure it works first somehow, anyone here know? the csr will say it wont but I bet it will.if it works the price difference would pay for your phone in a relatively short amount of time.
Thank you both for taking the time to answer my query. Yes, I will try to use my $10 Internet Unlimited. When I signed up for the $10 Internet Unlimited CSR told me that I could not and it would not work. However, little do they know other than $$$$$$$$. Been using it for almost a year. I am really excited about the HD2 and will let you know what my opinion is. Thanks again.
Actually, you don't need to call customer care. Log into your mytmobile, change the phone in your profile to an Android phone and then add your data plan.
@asctony: if you buy it from the TMo retail store or a 3rd party that does not have rebates and does not require a data plan, then no, you don't have to change your data plan. Use your existing data plan by changing your APN (search my post about Nexus One and HD2).
HotShotAzn said:
Actually, you don't need to call customer care. Log into your mytmobile, change the phone in your profile to an Android phone and then add your data plan.
@asctony: if you buy it from the TMo retail store or a 3rd party that does not have rebates and does not require a data plan, then no, you don't have to change your data plan. Use your existing data plan by changing your APN (search my post about Nexus One and HD2).
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Click to collapse
it is not like a switch that you toggle right? because i am looking at it in my profile but since i have a grandfathered plan it says it conflicts with the current smartphone plan. maybe i am not looking in the right spot.
that's weird.... I switched my plan from android internet to the total internet for the HD2. both were the same price of $24.95. I'm here in NJ if that makes a difference
Yeah I had the $34.99 unlimited internet and texts for android. When I called customer service they switched me over to the smartphone plan and I'm still paying $34.99, don't know how that happened exactly but I'm happy!
No MMS
I've been with T-Mobile forever. I had a Blackberry before my Touch Pro 2. My Blackberry BIS add-on charge is $19.99/month. Internet is good and fast, phone and SMS work great. Cannot send or receive MMS and was told by customer support that, "your HTC sends MMS via the data plan and your current Blackberry data plan is not compatible with your phone."
My kids have cheap camera phones that send/receive MMS on our same family plan, but my more sophisticated WinMo device cannot? Sounds fishy, but I have searched every thread and tried every setting and finally have given up. I can live without MMS if it's going to cost me an extra $180/year.
mr-green said:
yeah it's not that bad its only $10 more, but everytime they have a new phone or OS they add a new data service that is a little more expensive. first it was the BB data which i believe started at $20 then the android $25 that includes texts, now they have the smartphone data plan $30 w/ no texts. To me it seems that if you can keep whatever
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are aware that they had the data plan for Smartphones long before Android came out, right?

[ANSWERED]T-Mobile Data Plan?

Now, I know there are lots of threads on this already and I took a few minutes skimming search results and didn't find this answered.
Basically, I was hoping to switch myself to the $10 internet plan on T-Mobile rather than paying the $25 internet plan. I bought my phone unlocked from Google.com and not subsidized through T-Mobile. However, when I asked to switch to the other plan, they asked me for my IMEI number on my phone.
Has anyone else been asked for their IMEI when switching to a different data plan? Do they actually have a database of the existing N1 IMEI numbers or are they simply trying to build one? Would I be better off grabbing an old Razr and giving them that IMEI then switching back to my N1?
Lots of questions! Haha.
Anyway, if anyone could shed a bit of light on this I would very much appreciate it.
No, a few months after the initial G1 release T-Mobile caught on to the "scam" and closed the loophole. You have to have an Android data plan now or nothing.
evilkorn said:
No, a few months after the initial G1 release T-Mobile caught on to the "scam" and closed the loophole. You have to have an Android data plan now or nothing.
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Click to collapse
Confirmed--when I got my N1 and switching from a BB plan to an Android plan.
evilkorn said:
No, a few months after the initial G1 release T-Mobile caught on to the "scam" and closed the loophole. You have to have an Android data plan now or nothing.
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Click to collapse
bloke226 said:
Confirmed--when I got my N1 and switching from a BB plan to an Android plan.
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Click to collapse
Hmm.. I was under the impression that this was solely for subsidized phones which they already had IMEI's for.
So, in the end, you're stuck paying the extra cost for the Android version of Web even if you bought it unlocked then huh?
Nedlinin said:
Hmm.. I was under the impression that this was solely for subsidized phones which they already had IMEI's for.
So, in the end, you're stuck paying the extra cost for the Android version of Web even if you bought it unlocked then huh?
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Click to collapse
Pretty much--don't know what to tell you I bought the phone outright since I didn't want to kill my plan to be forced on the N1 T-Mobile individual plan for at least 4 months...and I was forced to go onto the $25/mos plan from my $20/mos BlackBerry plan.
EDIT: They didn't ask me for what my IMEI number was though. In T-Mobile's system it will probably say I still use a BlackBerry device
The IMEI numbers update automatically in the system on a 2 day lag. So whatever phone you use today will reflect in their system on Saturday. As far as the $10 data plan, it will not work. It should say something to the effect that "you don't have the proper provisioning" or something like that. Basically your eating up too much bandwidth. You obviously had enough money to buy a Nexus 1, but won't pay for the premium data plan? That's the same thing as buying a brand new Ferrari and asking your friends for gas money to go out? At least I see it that way
srt4john said:
The IMEI numbers update automatically in the system on a 2 day lag. So whatever phone you use today will reflect in their system on Saturday. As far as the $10 data plan, it will not work. It should say something to the effect that "you don't have the proper provisioning" or something like that. Basically your eating up too much bandwidth. You obviously had enough money to buy a Nexus 1, but won't pay for the premium data plan? That's the same thing as buying a brand new Ferrari and asking your friends for gas money to go out? At least I see it that way
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I see... bummer.
And, as far as buying an N1 and not paying for the premium plan, the premium plan is great as long as you have a job to afford it. When you get laid off, not so much.
Nedlinin said:
I see... bummer.
And, as far as buying an N1 and not paying for the premium plan, the premium plan is great as long as you have a job to afford it. When you get laid off, not so much.
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Seriously, you're joking right?
You can't afford the $15 price difference?
Then you should cancel your phone altogether.
Wow, some people are douchebags.
Re: T-Mobile Data Plan?
Now, I know there are lots of threads on this already and I took a few minutes skimming search results and didn't find this answered.
Basically, I was hoping to switch myself to the $10 internet plan on T-Mobile rather than paying the $25 internet plan. I bought my phone unlocked from Google.com and not subsidized through T-Mobile. However, when I asked to switch to the other plan, they asked me for my IMEI number on my phone.
Has anyone else been asked for their IMEI when switching to a different data plan? Do they actually have a database of the existing N1 IMEI numbers or are they simply trying to build one? Would I be better off grabbing an old Razr and giving them that IMEI then switching back to my N1?
Lots of questions! Haha.
Anyway, if anyone could shed a bit of light on this I would very much appreciate it.
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Click to collapse
I am currently using a 5.99 plan on my nexus. fast 3.5g internet for really cheap price. it works just fine. they have my imei. they know I am using the internet like that but they don't do anything about it. by simply putting in the epc.tmobile.com apn you'll get full internet on any plan. but this only works for the nexus. no other android phone can use this because tmobile provides the phones not Google.
Re: T-Mobile Data Plan?
I see... bummer.
And, as far as buying an N1 and not paying for the premium plan, the premium plan is great as long as you have a job to afford it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously, you're joking right?
You can't afford the $15 price difference?
Then you should cancel your phone altogether.
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Click to collapse
$15 more a month over years adds up. and in this economy money is hard to come by. no need to flame the guy.
Henchman said:
Seriously, you're joking right?
You can't afford the $15 price difference?
Then you should cancel your phone altogether.
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Click to collapse
I appreciate your input but I need my phone.
@Carbon: did you give them your Nexus's IMEI number or a different phones? Also, did you buy yours unlocked or subsidized?
carbonfiber1 said:
I am currently using a 5.99 plan on my nexus. fast 3.5g internet for really cheap price. it works just fine. they have my imei. they know I am using the internet like that but they don't do anything about it. by simply putting in the epc.tmobile.com apn you'll get full internet on any plan. but this only works for the nexus. no other android phone can use this because tmobile provides the phones not Google.
Click to expand...
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Interesting to know more how you were able to achieve the $5.99 plan
bloke226 said:
Interesting to know more how you were able to achieve the $5.99 plan
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Click to collapse
From what I have been able to find out, if you had the old $6 T-Zones, you were able to be grandfathered in when they cancelled the service. The cheapest net they offer now is the "Phone First/Web2Go" internet which is $10 a month. Essentially the same thing just 4$ more.
Nedlinin said:
From what I have been able to find out, if you had the old $6 T-Zones, you were able to be grandfathered in when they cancelled the service. The cheapest net they offer now is the "Phone First/Web2Go" internet which is $10 a month. Essentially the same thing just 4$ more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, interesting they do grandfathering
srt4john said:
Basically your eating up too much bandwidth. You obviously had enough money to buy a Nexus 1, but won't pay for the premium data plan? That's the same thing as buying a brand new Ferrari and asking your friends for gas money to go out? At least I see it that way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good analogy. However, people don't get rich by spending money. If you can find a way to pay less, you do it. Some people made a financial stretch to afford the N1 and now cannot afford to pay for a premium data service.
Data service is data service and should not be dependent on device. At least I see it that way.
Hey, I'm all fur finding ways to pay as little as possible.
But let's not pretend an extra $15 is breaking the bank.
Hello, I just cancelled my cable TV after realising u rarely watch the 200 channels available.
And all the network channels i can get using a $15 pair if rabbit ears.
HD, .5.1
Next to go is the phone. Experimenting with magic jack this month.
All I want to pay for is high speed internet.
I'll save at least $120 a month
I think the grandfathering is BS because when I first got my G1 I had T-Zones on my old v3 and they made me switch to the newer data plan. To clarify, they had to do it because of activating the phone, so I don't know if you just buy it outright and don't tell them it could work.
Nedlinin said:
@Carbon: did you give them your Nexus's IMEI number or a different phones? Also, did you buy yours unlocked or subsidized?
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Click to collapse
I got my phone unlocked. I didnt give them my IMEI, they automatically know it once your sim card is in the phone. Ive had the 5.99 tzones plan for a while now, but this article should help you out http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/5381...ed-data-for-5-99-works-wiphone-and-nexus-one/
edit: this comment by a user might also be helpful.
"as an alternative, i was able to set this up without customer service's help. this was more than a year ago when I setup tzones to work on my treo 650. the trick was that i had an old phone sony ericcson t300 that i had purchased back in 2000 or 2001. I keep it around because if i have an emergency where my phone or my wife's phone stops working i can transfer the sim card quickly to a working phone to make/receive a call. So here's what i did:
setup my sim card in the t300.
make a call or send a text message; long enough to let the t-mobile servers detect that I have switched phones.
log in to t-mobile.com
verify that my phone is now detected as a t300. if not, click on the "not my phone" and change it.
next, adjust service plans, t-zones appears on the list.
add tzones to your billing cycle. make any additional changes you need to make.
save the settings.
change your sim card back to the original phone.
setup the phone for t-zones service"
T-mobile has two data plans.
1) Data plan
2) Sidekick data plan
They have a ton of different pricing for number 1) , the $10 smart web, the $15 dollar smartphone plan, and the $25 android plan.
(I'm not even including all the grandfathered plans like t-zone/t-mobile shadow/blackberry,etc)
The point being they are all the same, they use the same servers, they are all unlimited, so If you can manage to get any of those plans on your bill you will have full 3g/HSPA speed internet on your phone, regardless of what phone it is.

Interested in getting Vibrant, but not eligible for upgrade, so was wondering........

Right now I really want the vibrant, but i'm not eligible for full upgrade from tmobile so i can't get the phone for 100 from costco where its on sale. Since my brother whose in a family plan with my parents is eligible, he could get me the phone since he says he's fine with his old sidekick.
So would it be as simple as him ordering the phone, giving it to me, and myself putting the sim card in, and using it right away? Also, I understand he has to get the data plan since it's required, but could he technically call tomobile to take it off and say he lost it? Because he's fine with his old sidekick and not wanting a data plan added on his bill. I would appreciate any responses thankyou.
Yes that should work fine. They may require you to add a data plan to your line though.
as for using a different line for upgrading the phone on another line, that is fine - I do this all the time (my company has over 30 lines, and most employees are still on the same phone they got in 2002)
the data plan will be an issue - technically, the price of the phone is subsidized by the data plan, so he would not be able to just cancel the data plan. if that were possible, tmobile would lose money, and that is a big NO-NO
But, I've heard from different people, that if you did report the phone lost, they would take the data plan off. Or that could go to your online t-mobile account and change what phone you have, like if you change that you have a "dumbphone". Can anyone else confirm this?
I was able to cancel the data plan here is how: Once you buy the phone and the data plan is active login at the t-mobile website and change the phone to another phone. On the left click on the line you just bought the phone on, then under the picture of the phone you just bought click on "not your phone/device" then choose a cheapo phone from the list (one that does not require an internet plan). Now you should be able to go under that accounts plan and cancel the internet. If this does not work then you would have to start begging tmobile to remove it (just explain to them the real situation and that you will add the plan to your line) usually if you have been a long time well paying customer they will help you.
Just have your brother, or whomever's name under the account, call in and ask to remove the Android data plan and put back the Sidekick plan. Of course, your brother's sim card needs to be in the sidekick at the time you request the change. If they ask for a reason, just say "I didn't like it, so I gave it to my brother." That's it. Keep it simple.
Cool, appreciate all the responses guys. I don't think my brother has the Sidekick plan, he just has the regular family plan line with no data or anything.
Okay, it's been about 2 weeks, and so I decided to call about the phone and switching the data plan. However, T-mobile would not allow my brother to switch his data plan over to my account. They won't allow him to get rid of the data charge on his account period. The only option the rep gave me was to downgrade to a sidekick plan for his account which basically cost the samee anyways. Anyone know what I should do now?
That will work, but like others said they will require you to have that data plan. So your brother will be stuck with his sidekick data plan and the data plan for the Vibrant. Unlike other phones I do not think he can use the Android data plan with his Sidekick. I have used my G1 plan with the Mytouch 3g, Cliq, HD2, and now my Vibrant. As you can see I used it with a non-adroid device (HD2) and it worked fine, but I think sidekicks are in a whole different league.
Just wait it out. How much longer is your contract. Also go to walmart instead of costco. If you go anywhere else you will get taxed on the full price of the phone when walmart only tax the cost shown. For example walmart taxes on 98.99. Whereas everyone else will tax 500.00.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Talk to a T-mo representative in store and ask them if you have a equipment credit line. I'm not eligible for upgrade until Nov but I have like $300 ECL. So I still got the phone at the same price of an upgrade.
Appreciate the responses guys, but right now I have the phone and it's great and everything. I even got the data plan myself. But what im trying to figure out is how to take the data plan completely off my brothers account since he technically doesnt own the phone anymore and having the plan would be useless.
I've talked to 3 different reps and each refused to take his plan off. One rep recommended to go to the store and buy a cheap "dumbphone" for like 50 bucks which takes his data plan off. It seems like my only option now and would you guys recommend that?
Well the terms are that you signed into a 2yr contract knowing there is a data plan requirement for 2 years. And now you want help getting it off? I don't think it would be appropriate to ask that here.
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Aria IMEI

I know it is a sensitive topic, but I'm so frustrated with ATT, and was wondering if I could get any directions from you guys.
I bought for my wife new Aria (full price) so she can collaborate with me without using her brain. Few days after the change I realized att changed her unlimited data plan to tiered one. That move really pissed me off, and I had to switch her back to old nokia to preserve unlimited plan. I used to have an iphone with this plan (unlimited data for $15/month), and it looks like they are enforcing new, more expensive plans not only on new customers, but also on existing ones.
Enough said... I would like to get some hints on changing imei, so I get to keep my old plan...
Thanks
Not 100% sure but just swap the sim and it should work. ATT are assholes for doing away with unlimited data made the mistake of losing my unlimited data plan when the iPhone 4 was released thanks iphone!
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
I upgraded to the aria And had the unlimited data plan transfered..if u just call customer service and tell them that u have been a loyal customer for a long time now and u should be able to keep the plan u have had..u should mention being grandfathered in, be polite and tell them if they can't help u then u might be looking at other carriers. U would be amazed at the things I have gotten for free or discounted by just calling and talking to customer service..if they say they can't do it ask to be transfered to to the person who can, u might be on the phone for a minute but u can get it done I promise u
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Post this same info on ATT's Facebook.
Same thing happened to me, I went from an iPhone to the Aria, and had the unlimited data removed, put a post on ATT's facebook, and within the day, I was talking to a guy who gave it back, credited my account, and gave me an additonal discount, to make my bill cheaper.
Interesting... if that's what they did to you then I may actually get somewhere. I just pulled the plug on one line to get G2 from tmo, and may threaten to close another line if they refuse to keep my plan...
If it comes to sim swap then it won't work with att branded phones. The only thing that may work (it worked with my old line) is to use unlock phone and ask them to update imei. They will mark your line as unlocked phone and never update your plan again. It worked for iphone...
Thx for your input.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
How much data do you actually use on your plan? I use my phone's data very regularly throughout the month and the most I've ever managed to use in a month was a gigabyte, making the $25 plan a cheaper solution than the $30 PDA Smartphone plan that preceded it.
I work in a retail position in which I handle AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile customers on a daily basis, and I have yet to meet anyone who uses more than 2GB a month, and some of these people use the phone as if they do not have a home internet service!
Thankfully AT&T has a very easy way of checking to see the monthly data usage you use, and even gives you a nice graph of the last six months of data usage, so you can decide for yourself what data plan is right for you.
"Unlimited" 3G data (w/ 5gb limit) for $30 on a smartphone is going the way of direct connect. Verizon will not be far behind with unveiling their new data plans and T-Mobile is talking about doing the same thing. I think once it is all said and done, we won't even see unlimited plans on 4G networks, especially once Sprint gets enough people back onto their service.
Just do the switch yourself. If you bought the phone full price you could have gotten it anywhere besides AT&T, swapped the SIM and been on the same plan. that's what i did coming from my Fuze. I just moved the SIM card to the new phone, and it worked flawlessly. kept my unlimited plan and everything.
as for data usage. When i had my Fuze i used maybe .5gig a month, but as soon as i got the Aria my usage spiked. I use consistently well over 2 gigs a month, breaking 4 gigs in August. I don't use it for tethering, i don't download huge video files, in fact i'm pretty tame with my phone usage. I'll be keeping my unlimited plan when i get a free upgrade in January.
shark0807 said:
How much data do you actually use on your plan? I use my phone's data very regularly throughout the month and the most I've ever managed to use in a month was a gigabyte, making the $25 plan a cheaper solution than the $30 PDA Smartphone plan that preceded it.
I work in a retail position in which I handle AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile customers on a daily basis, and I have yet to meet anyone who uses more than 2GB a month, and some of these people use the phone as if they do not have a home internet service!
Thankfully AT&T has a very easy way of checking to see the monthly data usage you use, and even gives you a nice graph of the last six months of data usage, so you can decide for yourself what data plan is right for you.
"Unlimited" 3G data (w/ 5gb limit) for $30 on a smartphone is going the way of direct connect. Verizon will not be far behind with unveiling their new data plans and T-Mobile is talking about doing the same thing. I think once it is all said and done, we won't even see unlimited plans on 4G networks, especially once Sprint gets enough people back onto their service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You sound like att spokesperson addressing all dumbasses that purchased smartphone thinking it will make them look smarter. Your data usage statistics are off, and just because you ask your customers about their data usage, it doesn't mean it makes you right. I have observed the data usage by mobile devices in the enterprise I manage in the past 3 years. It seems people spend more time using internet driven apps when their experience improves. That pretty much means the faster mobile network becomes the more bandwidth is consumed. Another huge impact on data usage comes from pushed advertisement. People love free apps, but in order to support brightminded developers those apps have to display small banners. lets do quick math here... each banner is about 5KB. Popular apps rotate them in intervals of 10s, or display new ad whenever you go to new page. If your phone supports multitasking, for example new iphone, then if you don't close the app (for example weather app) it may actually keep rotating those ads in the background eating up your bandwidth. That's 5KB every 10s throughout billing cycle gives us total of about 1.3GB each month. That's based on single app that probably won't be running 24/7, but you may have few of such apps running at the same time, so this will definitely bring you close to that number.
Now, lets talk about 4G, and your assumption of all carriers going with tiered plans. I've been enjoying my G2 over HSPA+ so much. You tube videos are actually in visible quality now. Those very same videos over att 3g were just a joke, and waste of time. What do you think how much bandwidth those HQ videos consume? How about video calls? How about flash driven apps? Limiting users to tiered plans would mean blocking all those services, and worse it would bring technology development for mobile devices to a halt (at least in US).
Mobile carriers are facing very hard times. There is more bandwidth demand than they estimated. ATT for example chose greed, and decided to oversubscribe their infrastructure hoping iphone will save them. Verizon however, invested in their network to ensure they can handle the growth. They all should be thankful to Apple for stealing the name "smartphone", and introducing it to masses in the form of a dumbphone. That move changed the industry, and right now we're all paying for it through higher cost, development by spending more time rooting devices than coding new apps, and reliability. I love my mac, but I hate Jobs for the iphone so much...
cegna09 said:
Just do the switch yourself. If you bought the phone full price you could have gotten it anywhere besides AT&T, swapped the SIM and been on the same plan. that's what i did coming from my Fuze. I just moved the SIM card to the new phone, and it worked flawlessly. kept my unlimited plan and everything.
as for data usage. When i had my Fuze i used maybe .5gig a month, but as soon as i got the Aria my usage spiked. I use consistently well over 2 gigs a month, breaking 4 gigs in August. I don't use it for tethering, i don't download huge video files, in fact i'm pretty tame with my phone usage. I'll be keeping my unlimited plan when i get a free upgrade in January.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aria is the only woman friendly (small) android phone that supports att 3G. I paid for it $300 (new). Legacy, which seems to be pretty much same phone is $200 more, and doesn't support att 3g frequencies. It looks like att is getting better in cat/mouse game. I may just have to threaten to leave, to get something done...
BTW
any android phone is concidered by att as smartphone, and they require smartphone plan with it. My wife previously had unlocked nokia, so they did not know what kind of phone it was, and allowed regular $15/month unlimited data plan. Once you put your sim into device that they have in their database they enforce on you smartphone plan that's currently available. If her previous plan was unlimited data for smartphone ($25/month), then I agree, she would be able to keep it.
chopperpl said:
BTW
any android phone is concidered by att as smartphone, and they require smartphone plan with it. My wife previously had unlocked nokia, so they did not know what kind of phone it was, and allowed regular $15/month unlimited data plan. Once you put your sim into device that they have in their database they enforce on you smartphone plan that's currently available. If her previous plan was unlimited data for smartphone ($25/month), then I agree, she would be able to keep it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
didn't realize you came from a non-smartphone. I came from a Fuze (touch pro), so i was already on the $30 unlimited smartphone plan. I made the phone switch right after they announced the end of unlimited plans, and just swapped the phone on my own. Their system caught it, changed my profile on AT&T's site, but did nothing to the plan. I still have the unlimited plan, and will be keeping it as i foresee my usage staying hight.
Do what i did.
Change the sim into a dumb phone and turn it on, wait about an hour, then log into your account online. The options for the medianet packages will reappear. Remove the smartphone data plans then enable the medianet plan for unlimited data. After switch the sim back to the smart phone, if you get a text or email saying they detected your smartphone just call them up and tell them you do not have a smartphone and give them the IMEI number of the dumb phone and have them remove the data and restore the medianet.
I know its a bit much to lie to them but it is robery that pay as you go data is $2 per 1MB, $15 for 200MB and $25 for 2GB when the service sucks inside any building in lower Manhattan.
joshua54 said:
I upgraded to the aria And had the unlimited data plan transfered..if u just call customer service and tell them that u have been a loyal customer for a long time now and u should be able to keep the plan u have had..u should mention being grandfathered in, be polite and tell them if they can't help u then u might be looking at other carriers. U would be amazed at the things I have gotten for free or discounted by just calling and talking to customer service..if they say they can't do it ask to be transfered to to the person who can, u might be on the phone for a minute but u can get it done I promise u
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is what i did.
I called cancellation dept, and they still refused to roll my old plan back
Going back to my initial request... Any hints on changing imei?
Thanks
Is it doable at all?
I don't want to waste anymore time on it. Can some of the bright ones just tell me, if imei on this phone is "burned-in" or is it changeable via software?
Thanks
So... I've done more research, and seems people are saying it is illegal to change imei... Illegal???? I think, if changing/spoofing for criminal activities then it is illegal. Carriers clearly abuse that id to rip more money from people. Where is the government to protect us? I wouldn’t mind, if there was an alternative, but there is none. How come I pay full price for the smartphone, and can’t deny data plan? I want to roam through local hot spots offered for free by my cable provider to sync phone instead of X fuc…ing G!!!! I think it is time for people to start filing complaints with FCC...
chopperpl said:
I don't want to waste anymore time on it. Can some of the bright ones just tell me, if imei on this phone is "burned-in" or is it changeable via software?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off AT&T can see immediately when you switch, and to what phone you are using, as well as the kind of traffic, to categorize your phone... so spoofing an IMEI won't get you anywhere - the bandwidth usage from a regular phone vs a smartphone is miles apart.
Second and more importantly Unlimited data for smartphones ($30) vs unlimited data for a regular phone ($15) are two completely different plans. Your old nokia was clearly not a smartphone if you were paying $15 for unlimited data.
I had a blackberry 9700 and went to an Aria, smartphone to smartphone. They let me keep my same smartphone unlimited data plan.
Bottom line you can't switch from a regular phone unlimited data to a smartphone unlimited data plan and keep the same plan.
You're SOL.
Your best bet is to talk to a manager in a retail store - as they are the only people who can work miracles. AT&T grants them special privileges, like allowing you to "early upgrade" (essentially re-start your contract) for a fee + regular advertised phone prices (way cheaper then a new phone at full retail price), and then allowing you to spend that "fee" as a credit on retail store accessories.
dexmix said:
First off AT&T can see immediately when you switch, and to what phone you are using, as well as the kind of traffic, to categorize your phone... so spoofing an IMEI won't get you anywhere - the bandwidth usage from a regular phone vs a smartphone is miles apart.
Second and more importantly Unlimited data for smartphones ($30) vs unlimited data for a regular phone ($15) are two completely different plans. Your old nokia was clearly not a smartphone if you were paying $15 for unlimited data.
I had a blackberry 9700 and went to an Aria, smartphone to smartphone. They let me keep my same smartphone unlimited data plan.
Bottom line you can't switch from a regular phone unlimited data to a smartphone unlimited data plan and keep the same plan.
You're SOL.
Your best bet is to talk to a manager in a retail store - as they are the only people who can work miracles. AT&T grants them special privileges, like allowing you to "early upgrade" (essentially re-start your contract) for a fee + regular advertised phone prices (way cheaper then a new phone at full retail price), and then allowing you to spend that "fee" as a credit on retail store accessories.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid you're wrong, and this is why. I've had iphone 3gs on unlimited data plan ($15/month) for over a year. Before that I had Nokia N95 (which is still much smarter than iphone 4) on the same plan also for about a year.
You're saying they monitor bandwidth usage... How come they never picked up on my international SIP calls, and radio streaming? and yes, spoofing will get me somewhere. ATT holds only imeis from att branded/approved phones. If my imei is not found they assume it is simple multimedia phone. How do I know that? I talked to cancellation dept manager two days ago, and was ensured I will get my plan back once my imei doesn't match any of those from att smartphone lineup.
dexmix said:
Bottom line you can't switch from a regular phone unlimited data to a smartphone unlimited data plan and keep the same plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what you are telling me is that basically, you want people on here to help you do something which is admittedly illegal in many counties, so your new smart phone appears as a multimedia phone and you can pay less and keep your unlimited data plan.
*scratches head*
edit: you would have been better off just getting an Aria for free with a 2yr contract and then paying for a 2G plan.
dexmix said:
So what you are telling me is that basically, you want people on here to help you do something which is admittedly illegal in many counties, so your new smart phone appears as a multimedia phone and you can pay less and keep your unlimited data plan.
*scratches head*
edit: you would have been better off just getting an Aria for free with a 2yr contract and then paying for a 2G plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, not exactly. I've had that plan since gen 1 iphone, which was running on Edge, and three months later I switched to n95 3g. Basically I'm trying to retain my old data plan, and that's because I have not received any special treatment, or services in order to pay more... If they rolled out LTE, and use that for justification then I would agree.
dexmix said:
edit: you would have been better off just getting an Aria for free with a 2yr contract and then paying for a 2G plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Better off????? 2 year contract means locked in with old technology. Those contracts don't do any good to people. By signing, you let att screw you any way they want. You can't walk away, or negotiate. If I wasn't tied up with the contract when att announced new plans, then I would switch to verizon long time ago... If you are real smartphone user then you better off buying unlocked phone, and use it the way it was designed to use without extra fees (tethering $60 ), but if you are one of those guys thinking "smartphone will make me look smarter", then your best bet is to buy discounted phone with the contract.

[Q] Just upgraded and got 4G unlimited?

Hi, I just upgraded my N97 to the G2 and got the HD7 free on black Friday.
I didn't have a data plan before, but when I look up my service it says I have 4g unlimited? I can't seem to find the service fee for it either.
I don't want to get a surprise at the end of the month and be hit with a $30 data plan.
Should I be worried?
The Rep told me the upgrade is only for the phone and does not affect the plan.
If I did get free 4G service then WOOT!
highly doubt it. when you upgrade, they change your data rate plan to the required one for your device. you're most likely going to get charged for it
thanks,
My brother got the HD7 and he had the 5.99 tmobile web plan, does this mean he lost his tmobile web plan forever? We he don't plan on keeping the phone and plans to go back to his Milestone.
For tmobile I know that if you upgrade a phone to a "data service required" model, YOU WILL NOT NEED A DATA SERVICE TO USE IT. They pull that bs to get more money out of you on the upgrade offer. All you need is a sim card for the phones designated provider. I know this because I handle the phones in the family plan for my family and have seen nearly every situation and outcome. Every 2 years each of us has a phone we get an upgrade for that individual line. We do not take upgrades always in turn and in the past have bought these "data plan required" phones off craigslist or ebay. They still work. If you use the data without a plan you will get charged out the ass. Luckily you can restrict yourself from doing that just incase you can't remember not to. You will also not lose the web features that are registered to your sim card. If you have the edge package (the cheaper one) and stick your sim in another phone, that phone now becomes "edge" enabled. Same goes for 3G package unless you put it in a HSPA compatible phone, then you will have the HSPA capabilities. Kinda nice that they aren't charging a jacked up fee for their new data service, but my connection locally sucks for it anyways so go figure.
One other rule about tmobile that I like is that they grandfather you on certain things. For example, I pay a flat $55 monthly for unlimited minutes/texts/data and they no longer have this plan available but since I've had it for the last few years, I am an exception to any plans they have now and that makes me a happier camper.
Thanks
so should I call the rep at the store back and tell him to remove the 4g unlimited?
I never had a data plan before the update, but my bro had the 5.99 plan.
or should i switch to a dumb phone and remove it myself?
thanks
You will NOT be able to keep the phone if you want to cancel the data plan. Tmobile requires the data plan as a part of the deal on the upgrade. I have a hard time believing this wasn't made abundantly clear to you before you upgraded.
Sent from my HTC Vision
That's what I heard, but I kept asking the Rep, Will the upgrade add or change anything to my current, plan and he kept saying no. And he assured me that the upgrade is only for the phone. He told me the Data plan is only for new subscribers.
Ray_jai said:
That's what I heard, but I kept asking the Rep, Will the upgrade add or change anything to my current, plan and he kept saying no. And he assured me that the upgrade is only for the phone. He told me the Data plan is only for new subscribers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ray as much as I would like to say woohooo for you, it is a well know problem with T-Mo Reps...They hay no clue what they are talking about! I would check your online account in the next few days, but you may not see it until your new billing cycle. These folks really suck at getting their fact straight!
Anyway, i hope that ou do get what you wanted, and keep us posted on the long term outcome.!
I find that no one ever knows what they are doing. I upgraded to the G2 and was very happy until the website said that another data plan was added to our contract for 30 a month. I've had a data plan for quite a while and it was 25 a month. When we called Tmo, they said I had to have that data plan on top of my old one to keep the phone. They were obviously mistaken but refused to do any of the leg work to get it fixed. I had to make calls to Best Buy and Tmo many times to make sure that it was fixed. Sorry for the rant, I just find it hard to believe that anyone has gone through this process smoothly when it has been a huge pain in the ass every time I have upgraded a phone.
I checked online and i saw the $30 data plan. I knew it wasn't going to be free, but oh well.
Do you guys know if i could change it to the $15 data plan?
thanks
I would recomend to anyone getting phones on contract.... buy the phone outright and all the plans become cheaper. Once gou have a contract you loose all your bargining chips. If i have a problem with my service i can call them up and say fix this or i cancel. They will quickly transfer me to a level whatever rep that has the power to change anything oon my plan to keep me happy. Just an fyi if you dont have the cash to buy the phone tmo has a plan that you pay them 20 a month till it paid off no interest. Even going that route monthly rate is still less then being on contract.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Reps will generally tell you whatever they can to make a sale. The rep outright lied to you when he said it wouldn't require a data plan.you should've asked for it in writing.
All subsidized smartphones require a compatible data plan (except the Nokia Nuron) for the life of the contract.
He didn't say I didn't need data, he just said he wouldn't add or change anything. He just never mentioned I will need a data plan.
looks like my bro won't be getting his 5.99 tzone plan back.
Does forcing us to get a data plan go under that net neutrality thing?
Ray_jai said:
He didn't say I didn't need data, he just said he wouldn't add or change anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I guess he didn't really lie then... the computer did it automatically.
Seriously though, he probably assumed you already had a data plan due to having an N97 smartphone.
Does forcing us to get a data plan go under that net neutrality thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a chance. It's a term stipulated by the contract in order for you to get the discounted price. All spelled out in the terms and conditions paper you sign.
On the G2, you can just use the "My Account" app, "Plan and Services" tab - it will show you up to the minute info regarding your plan, details, and monthly costs. Nothing is free, but TMo is as close as you can get in the US.
What happen is for some reason when upgrading 2 lines only the first one gets the "unlimited 4g" I ran into this problem a few days ago. The system doesn't automatically add the web on the second device(the "free" one) So the customer leaves the store with out the internet of the second device. Now unless he went into your account and changed the tzone package then you should be fine. But in the case that he did just call customer care and have them put the old feature on. They will be reluctant to do so and say that it doesnt exist anymore but they keep all of the plans in the system. Reps just dont like to go into the system and find the package. Hope this helps.

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